millerbca's review
2.0
Worst Couple ever
I’m not even sure how to start this review. In my opinion, this story was horrible. Sydney and Jace were two of the worst main characters. Sydney had absolutely no backbone. She took what ever scraps of attention she could get from Jace and fell in love with him. She fell in love with a man who repeatedly was mean to her, forgot he asked her to come over because he was drunk and he basically used her. Have a little self worth. Jace was on his way to being a drunk. He was selfish and just an ugly person. He couldn’t even give his kids the time of day. Then when the pregnancy came, he was an even worse person. To say I was disappointed in this book is putting it mildly.
I’m not even sure how to start this review. In my opinion, this story was horrible. Sydney and Jace were two of the worst main characters. Sydney had absolutely no backbone. She took what ever scraps of attention she could get from Jace and fell in love with him. She fell in love with a man who repeatedly was mean to her, forgot he asked her to come over because he was drunk and he basically used her. Have a little self worth. Jace was on his way to being a drunk. He was selfish and just an ugly person. He couldn’t even give his kids the time of day. Then when the pregnancy came, he was an even worse person. To say I was disappointed in this book is putting it mildly.
ness11's review
4.0
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book*
4 "Gummy Bear" Stars
Absolution took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride that had me on the edge of my seat. Bumpy turns that had me guessing as to what was going to happen next. With two imperfect characters that I couldn't help but root for.
Jace Montgomery is living in darkness. He's a ghost of the person he once was. Having experienced a tragic loss, there's nothing he wants more than to forget. He numbs himself as much as he can, but as soon as the numbness subsides he's dealt with feeling everything all over again. He knows things have to change, if not for him then for his children because they deserve better. And he knows it won't happen overnight, but sometimes there might just be help around the corner.
Sydney White has her head on straight. She's focused on her career. Working at a job she loves with her best friend. She's given up on relationships and finding the right man since she always seems to go after the unattainable ones. Though sometimes when you're not looking, that's the moment where it finds you. And this is exactly what happens when Sydney lays eyes on Jace. The attraction is instant and the chemistry is undeniable. But can Sydney be the one to help Jace fight his demons and find the light or is he just another unattainable man to add to her list?
Absolution is a story that'll break and wreck you, but at the same time heal you. A story about forgiveness and letting go of the past. The writing is flawless. With two characters that are beautifully broken, but nonetheless incredible. Hold on, it's an emotional ride, but worth it.
4 "Gummy Bear" Stars
Absolution took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride that had me on the edge of my seat. Bumpy turns that had me guessing as to what was going to happen next. With two imperfect characters that I couldn't help but root for.
Jace Montgomery is living in darkness. He's a ghost of the person he once was. Having experienced a tragic loss, there's nothing he wants more than to forget. He numbs himself as much as he can, but as soon as the numbness subsides he's dealt with feeling everything all over again. He knows things have to change, if not for him then for his children because they deserve better. And he knows it won't happen overnight, but sometimes there might just be help around the corner.
Sydney White has her head on straight. She's focused on her career. Working at a job she loves with her best friend. She's given up on relationships and finding the right man since she always seems to go after the unattainable ones. Though sometimes when you're not looking, that's the moment where it finds you. And this is exactly what happens when Sydney lays eyes on Jace. The attraction is instant and the chemistry is undeniable. But can Sydney be the one to help Jace fight his demons and find the light or is he just another unattainable man to add to her list?
Absolution is a story that'll break and wreck you, but at the same time heal you. A story about forgiveness and letting go of the past. The writing is flawless. With two characters that are beautifully broken, but nonetheless incredible. Hold on, it's an emotional ride, but worth it.
booksonstereo_o's review
5.0
Absolution is absolutely perfection. Harrison has crafted a touching romance between a widowed dad and career women. Absolution delves into the grief in losing a loved one, and the vices that some consume in order to face the day. The narrative is pure gold, and the romance is just the right amount of smut and tenderness. There are so many places in which the narrative could have gone south, but in Harrison's talent hands, she handles each and every turn of the plot with the skill of a veteran. Please do yourself a favor and read this book.
readingwithrosie's review
3.75
I liked them but I don't really like when they cant get over their other partner, which probably makes me a bad person lol
thesassybookworm's review
4.0
Truth be told, I went into this book with pretty low expectations. I honestly wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. I still had some major issues with Jace's character, but apart from that, it was a pretty decent read for me. Frankly, this author is just a brilliant writer. She can write emotional scenes and heartache with the best of them. This book gutted me. I cried. I was angry. I wanted to throat punch Jace. I wanted to shake Sydney and tell her to "MOVE THE FUCK ON." I was completely enthralled with this story and couldn't put the book down. Even the fact that he is still very much grieving for his dead wife for most of the book didn't bother me. It had only been a year since she and their unborn baby died, and grief (and especially guilt) isn't a switch you can turn off and on. I understood his pain and anger. I also never once felt that Sydney was second best either. Quite frankly I hate the term second best because it implies that love is some sort of competition. People love different people in different ways. It doesn't mean that the love he felt for Sydney was less than the love he felt for his wife because he was still grieving over her loss. The love he feels (and will always feel) for his wife didn't in any way diminish the love he felt for Sydney. 
That said, grief isn't an excuse to be an utterly despicable human being either. It doesn't give you a pass to treat people like crap. It doesn't give you a pass for being an alcoholic (something that is never addressed in the book at all and really should have been). It doesn't give you a pass to neglect your children, who, just an FYI, also lost someone they loved (their mother). Jace was a completely unlikable douche (for most of this book). I felt for him, I really did, but I can't think of a single good quality this guy had. The way he treated his own children and family was deplorable and inexcusable. A lot of the book from the beginning until right near the end was him treating everyone (especially Sydney) like dirt on the bottom of his shoes. I hated him for that. I also hated how he abandoned Sydney when she needed him the most. However, he did work himself back into my good graces by the end...ever so slightly.
On to Sydney...was she a doormat? Yes, sort of, I can see why some people may feel that way about her character. I am not sure "I" would call her a doormat as much as she was just a decent human being with a big heart. Considering how badly this guy treated his kids, I was happy that she kept coming back for their sakes. She also did give as good as she got at times, so not a complete doormat in my opinion. Did she deserve better than Jace? For most of the book, yes. Should she have made Jace grovel more? Undoubtedly. That said. I ended the book feeling like this couple was on solid ground. It was a heartbreaking, and rage-inducing journey to get there, but get there they did.
So there you go. A bit of a mixed bag. Which leaves me struggling to decide on a rating. The book was amazingly written, and it clearly invoked a lot of different feelings from me. Which usually means 5-Stars. Alas, I disliked (but also strangely understood) the hero with the passion of a thousand white-hot suns. Resulting in me (at times) really wanting the heroine to move on and find a decent hero (lol). What to do...what to do?? I think I am going to go with a 4-Star rating at this point with the option to change my mind after I marinate on it a bit more.
heloncha14's review
3.0
Ava Harrison did good with this book.
She was able to portray mourning in such a way that is not really look at much in romance books.
Jace Montgomery is stuck in the past without being able to move on. Having this dark cloud over him constantly causing him to self hate. He’s neglected everyone, including his kids. A ticking time bomb, if you will.
Sydney is the woman that ALWAYS dates the wrong man. And, then on top of that, she is always trying to fix them plus go out of her way to help them.
I gotta say, I’ve always loved bad men. But, I was really disappointment with the way Sydney wouldn’t defend herself when Jace was being so horrible to her.
I love a good strong heroine. And this time, it felt like she was just a constant doormat up until the end of the book. That’s the reason for removing one star.
The story line was amazing though. This book will take you on a HUGE emotional ride. I definitely got a little tear eyed many times throughout the story. And, the chemistry these two characters experience when they don’t allow any outside thoughts govern them, is AMAZING.
I wanted to throw my kindle a few times. And, you gotta love novels that will make you not think twice about damaging an e reader.
She was able to portray mourning in such a way that is not really look at much in romance books.
Jace Montgomery is stuck in the past without being able to move on. Having this dark cloud over him constantly causing him to self hate. He’s neglected everyone, including his kids. A ticking time bomb, if you will.
Sydney is the woman that ALWAYS dates the wrong man. And, then on top of that, she is always trying to fix them plus go out of her way to help them.
I gotta say, I’ve always loved bad men. But, I was really disappointment with the way Sydney wouldn’t defend herself when Jace was being so horrible to her.
I love a good strong heroine. And this time, it felt like she was just a constant doormat up until the end of the book. That’s the reason for removing one star.
The story line was amazing though. This book will take you on a HUGE emotional ride. I definitely got a little tear eyed many times throughout the story. And, the chemistry these two characters experience when they don’t allow any outside thoughts govern them, is AMAZING.
I wanted to throw my kindle a few times. And, you gotta love novels that will make you not think twice about damaging an e reader.
bluestar's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
jazzy_belle's review
5.0
A Second Chance at a Happy Ending and Forever
“But he also kisses like a starved man who wants to devour the lifeline from my body.”
So umm wow...where is my man to kiss me like this?? There’s so many one liners like this in this book that my highlights go on for days. With Absolution, Harrison makes sure it takes root and buries itself deep in your emotional psych. So let’s be real here, Jace is an ahole, a major one, but you don’t hate him, you can’t. The heartache he has bleeds off the pages and overshadows the hate. Then comes Sydney, who unexpectedly becomes the beacon of light in Jace’s life and brings him out of the darkness he’s been living in for so long. Absolution rocks you to your core and takes you through the reamer when it comes to emotions. Anger, sadness, hope, happiness, you name it, I felt it. My first book by Ava Harrison but definitely not my last. I mean this woman has been highly recommended and so I’m so glad I listened and finally experienced the greatness of Ava Harrison. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
“But he also kisses like a starved man who wants to devour the lifeline from my body.”
So umm wow...where is my man to kiss me like this?? There’s so many one liners like this in this book that my highlights go on for days. With Absolution, Harrison makes sure it takes root and buries itself deep in your emotional psych. So let’s be real here, Jace is an ahole, a major one, but you don’t hate him, you can’t. The heartache he has bleeds off the pages and overshadows the hate. Then comes Sydney, who unexpectedly becomes the beacon of light in Jace’s life and brings him out of the darkness he’s been living in for so long. Absolution rocks you to your core and takes you through the reamer when it comes to emotions. Anger, sadness, hope, happiness, you name it, I felt it. My first book by Ava Harrison but definitely not my last. I mean this woman has been highly recommended and so I’m so glad I listened and finally experienced the greatness of Ava Harrison. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
chemslady's review
5.0
kind of had a feeling that this was part of a series or at least a spin-off of Eve and Preston's story. The beginning chapter made allusions to their story without actually divulging details about their rough patch. I do appreciate the author's restraint in not telling too much about the hardships that Eve and Preston had to endure to get their happy ending. But I would have liked to know that there was a book that had Eve and Preston's story before reading Jace and Sydney's in ab-so-lu-tion. I would have still read this novel because I love Jace's dark, broody and slightly depressed side. Sydney's happy go-lucky personality. The character have the perfect balance of flaws. Sydney knows that she never dates men who are available to her.
Sydney has a type--unavailable men. The last loser was literally unavailable--he's married. Of course, she didn't know that until later which is why she broke up with him. Then there was Richard, her boss--the man who meant more to her than he should have. He is also the man who took a chance and hired her. Oh and the married ex, William is still calling her trying to win her back. She only wants to focus on her best friend, Eve making Eve's wedding the best wedding possible. But there is a dark cloud hanging over the wedding--his name is Jace Montgomery, Eve's future brother-in-law and best man.
Jace Montgomery is a widower with two children. His wife was tragically taken from him a little over a year ago. He still hasn't properly grieved her death. He has immersed himself in work. He spends very little time with his two children who are always with the nanny or his brother Preston. Oh, Preston's wedding is the first wedding he has been to since his wife's death. Her ghost keeps following him around the fairy tale setting. Eve is glowing with Preston by her side along with her best friend, Sydney. Jace doesn't want to ruin his brother's big day, but everything is so difficult to deal with. Sydney helps him through the day. He's embarrassed that she saw him at his lowest point after the wedding.
Days after the wedding Sydney can't stop thinking about Jace. At first she meets up with him to help him out with his kids since his nanny had to rush home for a family illness. Sydney loves his kids--Avery is adorable and sweet. Logan such a cutie--he looks a lot like his father. How can she say no to those sweet little things? Jace is different than he was at the wedding. He's a bit more laid back. Every so often Sydney can pry a smile out of him. He flirts with her which is a bit confusing to Sydney since he is so aloof. But he's sooo her type--completely unavailable. This time it's emotionally.
There's something about Sydney that's gotten under Jace's skin. He feels lighter--almost happy. She is filling his thoughts and dreams. He has even caught himself daydreaming about her at work--he never does that! He's not even sure he did that with his wife, Claire. He finds reasons to text, call, and see her. He wants more from her. But can he offer more to her than casual sex and carefree family fun? Can he be the boyfriend or partner that she deserves? He doesn't want his fears to consume him...but somehow it is. He's scared of what might happen if he completely lets her into his heart which would be a bigger fall out than when his wife died.
When Preston calls to yell at him about his relationship with Sydney, Preston makes Jace re-think his decisions. Can Jace give up Sydney to save himself? Is it too late to save his and her heart from devastation? Will Sydney's trip to the hospital change their lives?
Sydney has a type--unavailable men. The last loser was literally unavailable--he's married. Of course, she didn't know that until later which is why she broke up with him. Then there was Richard, her boss--the man who meant more to her than he should have. He is also the man who took a chance and hired her. Oh and the married ex, William is still calling her trying to win her back. She only wants to focus on her best friend, Eve making Eve's wedding the best wedding possible. But there is a dark cloud hanging over the wedding--his name is Jace Montgomery, Eve's future brother-in-law and best man.
Jace Montgomery is a widower with two children. His wife was tragically taken from him a little over a year ago. He still hasn't properly grieved her death. He has immersed himself in work. He spends very little time with his two children who are always with the nanny or his brother Preston. Oh, Preston's wedding is the first wedding he has been to since his wife's death. Her ghost keeps following him around the fairy tale setting. Eve is glowing with Preston by her side along with her best friend, Sydney. Jace doesn't want to ruin his brother's big day, but everything is so difficult to deal with. Sydney helps him through the day. He's embarrassed that she saw him at his lowest point after the wedding.
Days after the wedding Sydney can't stop thinking about Jace. At first she meets up with him to help him out with his kids since his nanny had to rush home for a family illness. Sydney loves his kids--Avery is adorable and sweet. Logan such a cutie--he looks a lot like his father. How can she say no to those sweet little things? Jace is different than he was at the wedding. He's a bit more laid back. Every so often Sydney can pry a smile out of him. He flirts with her which is a bit confusing to Sydney since he is so aloof. But he's sooo her type--completely unavailable. This time it's emotionally.
There's something about Sydney that's gotten under Jace's skin. He feels lighter--almost happy. She is filling his thoughts and dreams. He has even caught himself daydreaming about her at work--he never does that! He's not even sure he did that with his wife, Claire. He finds reasons to text, call, and see her. He wants more from her. But can he offer more to her than casual sex and carefree family fun? Can he be the boyfriend or partner that she deserves? He doesn't want his fears to consume him...but somehow it is. He's scared of what might happen if he completely lets her into his heart which would be a bigger fall out than when his wife died.
When Preston calls to yell at him about his relationship with Sydney, Preston makes Jace re-think his decisions. Can Jace give up Sydney to save himself? Is it too late to save his and her heart from devastation? Will Sydney's trip to the hospital change their lives?